Improved wheel for carriages and other vehicles



i `Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section my improved wheel, inplace upon its axle.

' ALMOND F. CoOPFs, OF SAN FRANCISCO SFLF AND JOHN c. TAFFAN, OF

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters .Patent No. 99,851, dated February 15, 1870.

IMPROVE!) WHEEL FOR CARRIAGES AN D OTHER VEHICLES.

' Obh-- The Schedule referred to ix these Letters Patent and making partof the same.

MMO-

To all chant it may concern:V

Be it known that l, ALMOND F. COOPER, of San Francisco, in the county ofSan Francisco, and State of Calilbrnia, have. invented certainImprovements in .Wheels t'or Carriage-s, Railroad-Gars, and otherT -gliieles, ofl which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, makingpart of this specification, in whichthrough Figure 2 isa perspectiveview ot' myimproved wheel, with one of its coveiingplates removed.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the inner side of one ofthe coveiingplates, with the axle applied thereto. v l

Figure 4 is a plan ot' the inner side of one of the covering plates. l

My invention hasfor its object to produce a wheel of simpleconstruction, which shall be elastic, and at the same time possess greatstrength and durability, and consists in the peculiar construction ofthe wheel, and in the manner-ot' applying the elastic material thereto.

To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention,I will proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out.

1n the said drawingsv A is a. solid wheel, with only a circular opening5 at its center, in which snugly fits a rubber block B, ot'corresponding shape, surrounding au axle C.

Each side of' the wheel has projecting from it, and

' formed in one and the same piece therewith, a 'circular flange a, uponand around which is placed a circular covering plate D, provided with anannular groove, b, a hand ot' rubber, 0, suironnding the flange`v a, andbeing interposed between it and the outer side ot' the groove b, whileanother band of rubber, d, is interposed between the inside of' theflange a and the inner side ot' the groove l, the width 'of which corre-'spends exactly to the aggregate width of' the rubber bands c d and theflange a, by which construction the weight will be brought verticallyupon the upper halt' of the band e and the lower half of the band d, thcelasticity of'lthe rubber allowing the-plate D to yield, whereby theconcussion and noise incident to wheels ot' t-he ordinary constructionare avoided, and the Wear ofthe parts materially reduced.

0n each side ot' the wheel'A, within the space inclosed by the flange a,are a series of circular recesses .for the reception of' a. series ot'rubber blocks or springs,

c, which project ont beyond the face of the wheel, and into a series ofcorresponding recesses, f, in the central portion, g, of the plate D,the recesses on one side ofthe wheel heilig opposite'to the center of.the spaces between the recesses on .the other side.

Outside the ange a, and On each sideof the wheel,

are also formed another series of recesses, for the re-- ception otanother series of' rubber blocks or springs h, which project out intocorresponding recesses i in the plate ID.

These rubber blocks act. as buffers 'or cushions, and serve'inconnection with the elastic rings c (l, to support the weight upon the.wheel; their principal o'ice,

however, is toI prevent the wheel A t'roni turning independently of theplates D, which are shrunk on to or otherwise ii'rmly secured to theaxle C, so that it will be impossible for them to revolveiinlependeut-ly ot'. each other.

Near one end ofthe axle C is cut a screw-thread, k, over which is turneda nut, l, which bears upon a washer, m, resting on the outer face ot'the outer covering plate D, which is thus kept in place with addi.

tional security. y

The elastic blocks e h project out sufiicieutly far to maintain theplates D at the proper distance from the sides ofthe wheel, so as notonly to preventfriction, but to allow the wheel to have a slight lateralmotion independently ofthe axle, in passing arouml curves.

Instead of' two series ot' elastic blocks, one series only, either theinner or outer series, may. be employed, and the blocks may be. of' someelastic mate-v rial other than rubber, if preferred, or stiff spiralsprings may be used in lieu of the blocks e lt.

It' desired, the plates D may be held with additional security by meansot' bolts passing through them and the wheel A, the holes inthe latterbeing made suiiicieutly large to allow the plates to yield.

The exteriorl and interior of' the flange c, the outer side ofthe grooveb, and the sides oi the central opening 5 are furnished with notches, n,which alford spaces into which the elastic material may expand whensubjected to pressure, these notches also aiding to preventfthe rings cd and block B iroin-beingnioved out ot' their proper positions. Thiselastic block B may be dispensed with, if desired.

lt is evident that my improvements may be ap: .plied to carriage-wheelsfor ordinary roads, in which case the axle-box will pass through thecentral open? ing 5 and vth`e plates l), and will he firmly secured tothe latter.

Claim.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isM The Iwheel A, with its flange a, incombination with the grooved plateD, the elastic rings c d, and one or more series of elastic blocks orsprings, the whole constructed and operating substantially as described,for

the purpose setl'orth y ALMOND F. COOPER. Witnesses:

l. E. Tascam/momen, W. J. CAMBRIDGE.

, CALIFORNIA', ASSIGNOR To HIM- y

